Formby hits out at Watson amid Labour feuding

Formby hits out at Watson amid Labour feuding

The bitter row at the top of the Labour Party has deepened, with general secretary Jennie Formby accusing deputy leader Tom Watson of “traducing” her while she is undergoing cancer treatment.

Mr Watson wrote to her calling for the party to publish its submission to a watchdog investigating anti-Semitism claims, as well as raising allegations she had deleted emails relating to cases – a suggestion Ms Formby denies.

In her reply, she said she was “very disappointed” in his approach and accused him of abusing his position.

She said: “The party has at all levels consistently shown that it recognises the vital importance of combating anti-Semitism, yet you consistently abuse your considerable platform to denigrate any progress that has been made and any individual that is involved in that.”

Ms Formby, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, added: “Traducing my reputation and publicly attacking me when you know I am undergoing chemotherapy and am unable to respond in the media is another example of the inappropriate way in which you choose to discuss this issue.”

Mr Watson’s letter came as the fallout from a BBC Panorama documentary into Labour’s handling of anti-Semitism continued.

The deputy leader said a document produced for the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation of the party should be made public because “only sunlight can disinfect Labour of anti-Semitism now”.

He also said he believes there was “some participation” from leader Jeremy Corbyn’s office in the disciplinary process dealing with accusations of anti-Semitism.

The party’s deputy leader claimed there was “almost a permissive culture” towards anti-Jewish racism in the ranks after damning claims about the party’s handling of accusations were broadcast.

A total of eight people told the BBC’s Panorama programme they were undermined in their attempts to tackle anti-Semitism in the party.

Four of those who spoke out, including former Labour general secretary Lord Iain McNicol, broke non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to do so.

Labour has denied the claims and written a complaint to the BBC.

In his letter to Ms Formby, Mr Watson said the people who spoke to the programme were “very brave to go before a camera and tell their stories”.

“The way that they have been smeared, including by Labour spokespeople, is deplorable,” he said.

“Even if some in the party did not want to hear what they had to say, it is unacceptable to attempt to undermine their integrity and characters in this manner.”

Earlier, Mr Watson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “In the last four years, since Jeremy and I were elected leader and deputy leader of the party, there is a growing belief that there is a sickness in our party, that this kind of abuse has been in some way allowed.

“That there’s almost a permissive culture that people can use anti-Jewish, racist language both in our meetings and to each other on social media and we’ve failed to address that properly.

“It does seem to me that there is obviously some participation in these disciplinary cases from the leader’s office, which means they are responsible for dealing with the rebuilding of trust in the Jewish community.”

The Jewish Labour Movement, said it had secured testimonies from 30 whistle-blowers to the EHRC.

The group said: “The culture and scale of anti-Semitism within the party has been perpetuated and exacerbated by those at the very top. Those responsible must be held accountable.”

A Labour spokesman said the party rejected any claim it is anti-Semitic and it complained in advance to the BBC “over the way the programme was put together and its choice of a presenter who has expressed overt personal and political hostility to Jeremy Corbyn’s politics”.

“We stand in solidarity with Jewish people, and we’re taking decisive action to root out anti-Semitism from our movement and society,” the spokesman said.

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